'''Advancement''' occurs when a youth member in a Scouting program completes a set of requirements and is recognized with a [[Rank|rank]] badge or an [[Awards|award]] designated as part of an advancement path.

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<noinclude>{{Advancement Header}}

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{{AdvancementPolicies}}

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Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting in all four phases of the Scouting program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing). The aims of Scouting are character building, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.

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__NOTOC__</noinclude>

==What is Advancement?==

==What is Advancement?==

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{{main|What is Advancement?}}

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{{Shortcut|[[What is Advancement?]]}}

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Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank (or to specific awards) in the Scouting program.

{{quote|Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank in the Scouting program. Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. Everything done to advance and earn these ranks should be designed to help the young person have an exciting and meaningful experience.}}

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Advancement may be a linear trail through ranks and awards (for Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Sea Scouting) or may be paths that branch into areas of specialties (Varsity Scouting and Venturing). Earning ranks or advancement awards involves fulfilling various requirements which may include earning badges, pins, emblems or other recognition awards.

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{{quote|Education and fun are functions of the Scouting movement, and they must be the basis of the advancement program.}}

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Advancement opportunities are available to Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers.

{{quote|Council and district advancement committees implement procedures that help achieve the following advancement principles.}}

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==Cub Scouts==

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{{quote-source|'''Personal growth is the prime consideration in the advancement program.''' Scouting skills—what a young person knows how to do—are important, but they are not the most important aspect of advancement. Scouting's concern is the total growth of youth. This growth may be measured by how youth live the Scouting ideals, and how they do their part in their daily lives.

'''Learning by doing.''' A Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturer may read about fire building or good citizenship. He/she may hear it discussed, and watch others in action, but he/she has not learned first aid until he/she has done it.

'''Each youth progresses at his or her own rate.''' Advancement is not a competition among individual young people, but is an expression of their interest and participation in the program. Youth must be encouraged to advance steadily and set their own goals with guidance from their parents, guardians, or leaders.|[[Advancement Policies]] #33088, p. 3}}

The Arrow of Light is the only award patch that a Cub Scout can wear on a uniform of the other BSA programs.

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{{quote|'''A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward for what he or she has done.''' The badge is proof of certain abilities, and is not just a reward for the completion of a task.}}

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==Boy Scouts==

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{{quote|'''Advancement encourages Scouting ideals.''' Scouting teaches a young person how to care for himself/herself and help others. Advancement should reflect the desire to live the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life.}}

{{New9}}{{quote-source|No council, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to or subtract from advancement requirements. (For the policies concerning [[Youth Members With Special Needs|youth members with special needs]], see pages 39–43.)Suggestions for changes in requirements should be sent to the Program Content Committee, Innovation & Strategy Group, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.|[[Advancement Policies]] #33088, p. 3}}

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Boy Scouts 11 years and older and younger than 18 earn the Scout Badge upon joining and progress along the Eagle trail. Requirements may be earned at any time, but ranks are received in sequence and according to time and leadership requirements.

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==Advancement in the Four Scouting Program Phases==

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{{Shortcut|[[Advancement in the Four Scouting Program Phases]]}}

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{{quote-source|Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting in all four phases of the Scouting program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing). The aims of Scouting are character building, [[citizenship]] training, and physical and mental fitness.|[[Advancement Policies]] #33088, p. 4}}

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:1. [[Scout Badge|Scout badge]] - Boy Scout joining requirements.

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===Cub Scouting===

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:2. [[Tenderfoot]]

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{{Main|Cub Scout Leader Portal}}

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:3. [[Second Class]]

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[[Image:Cub-logo.gif|left]]

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:4. [[First Class]]

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{{quote-source|The Cub Scout program in the den and pack is the basis for Cub Scout advancement. The steps in Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, and Webelos Scout advancement procedures are preparation, qualification, and recognition.

The Eagle Scout Award may be worn on a uniform of Venturers and Sea Scouts. The Star, Life and Eagle patch may be worn on the uniform of Venturers.

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Cub Scouting has the following ranks: [[Bobcat badge|Bobcat]], [[Tiger Cub Scout|Tiger Cub]], [[Wolf Cub Scout|Wolf]], [[Bear Cub Scout|Bear]], [[Webelos Scout|Webelos]], and [[Arrow of Light]]. The requirements to reach each rank are authorized by the National Executive Board and set forth in the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, and Webelos Handbook.|[[Advancement Policies]] #33088, p. 4}}

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==Varsity Scouts==

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===Boy Scouting===

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[[Image:Varsity-logo.gif|thumb|75px|Varsity Scouting teams are composed of one or more squads.]]

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{{main|Boy Scout Portal}}

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[[Image:FleurDeLis.jpg|left]]

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{{quote-source|The Boy Scout requirements for rank are the basis for a Boy Scout's advancement. There are four steps in the Boy Scout advancement procedure: learning, testing, [[Boards of Review|reviewing]], and recognition.

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{{main|Varsity Scouting advancement}}

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Boy Scouting has the following ranks: [[Tenderfoot]], [[Second Class]], [[First Class]], [[Star]], [[Life]], and [[Eagle]]. The requirements for each rank are those authorized by the National Executive Board and set forth in the [[Boy Scout Handbook]], and the current [[Boy Scout Requirements book]].|[[Advancement Policies]] #33088, p. 4}}

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Varsity Scouts 14 years and older and younger than 18 follow the same rank requirements as Boy Scouts; team members frequently have previous service or are dual registered in a Boy Scout troop. Varsity Letter and Denali Award requirements may be earned immediately upon joining the team, but members must advance at least one rank toward Eagle or earn an Eagle Palm.

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===Varsity Scouting===

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{{main|Varsity Scout Portal}}

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[[Image:Varsity-logo.gif|left|75px]]

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{{quote-source|The Varsity Scout requirements for rank advancement are the same as those for [[Boy Scouts]]. However, the advancement program is supervised by a youth member called an [[advancement program manager]], who is assisted by an adult on the [[team committee]].|[[Advancement Policies]] #33088, p. 4}}

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'''Boy Scouting advancement'''

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===Venturing===

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:1. [[Scout Badge|Scout badge]] - Boy Scout joining requirements.

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{{main|Venturing Portal}}[[Image:Venturing-logo.jpg|left|75px]]

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:2. [[Tenderfoot]]

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{{quote-source|A male Venturer who has achieved the [[First Class rank]] as a [[Boy Scout]] in a [[troop or as a [[Varsity Scout]] in a [[team]] may continue working toward the [[Eagle Scout rank]] as a Venturer until his 18th birthday. There is no alternate Venturing advancement route to qualify for the Eagle Scout rank.

The Denali Award may be worn on a uniform of Venturers and Sea Scouts.

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==See also==

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* [[Awards]]

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* [[Merit Badge Worksheets]]

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==Venturing==

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{{Advancement navbox}}

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[[Image:Venturing-logo.jpg|thumb|75px|Venturing units include crews of Venturers and ships of Sea Scouts.]]

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{{main|Venturing advancement}}

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Venturers/Sea Scouts who have completed eight grade 14 years and older and younger than 21 may begin work toward a Bronze Award or Apprentice Sea Scout rank upon joining. Sea Scouts in a ship may work earn Venturing basic advancement and expert-level award, but Venturers in a crew cannot earn Sea Scout ranks outside of a ship.

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A male [[Boy Scouting Rank Advancement for Venturers|Venturer or Sea Scout is eligible for Eagle rank]] before his 18th birthday, providing he has previously achieved Star or Life in a Boy Scout troop or Varsity Scout team.

What is Advancement?

Advancement is the process by which youth members of the Boy Scouts of America progress from rank to rank in the Scouting program. Advancement is simply a means to an end, not an end in itself. Everything done to advance and earn these ranks should be designed to help the young person have an exciting and meaningful experience.

”

“

Education and fun are functions of the Scouting movement, and they must be the basis of the advancement program.

Advancement Principles

Council and district advancement committees implement procedures that help achieve the following advancement principles.

”

“

Personal growth is the prime consideration in the advancement program. Scouting skills—what a young person knows how to do—are important, but they are not the most important aspect of advancement. Scouting's concern is the total growth of youth. This growth may be measured by how youth live the Scouting ideals, and how they do their part in their daily lives.

Learning by doing. A Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturer may read about fire building or good citizenship. He/she may hear it discussed, and watch others in action, but he/she has not learned first aid until he/she has done it.

Each youth progresses at his or her own rate. Advancement is not a competition among individual young people, but is an expression of their interest and participation in the program. Youth must be encouraged to advance steadily and set their own goals with guidance from their parents, guardians, or leaders.

Just because a group of youth join at the same time, not everyone will earn the same awards at the same time. Let all members earn the awards at their own pace.

”

“

A badge is recognition of what a young person is able to do, not merely a reward for what he or she has done. The badge is proof of certain abilities, and is not just a reward for the completion of a task.

”

“

Advancement encourages Scouting ideals. Scouting teaches a young person how to care for himself/herself and help others. Advancement should reflect the desire to live the Cub Scout, Boy Scout, or Venturing Oath in his/her daily life.

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2009

Update

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No council, district, unit, or individual has the authority to add to or subtract from advancement requirements. (For the policies concerning youth members with special needs, see pages 39–43.)Suggestions for changes in requirements should be sent to the Program Content Committee, Innovation & Strategy Group, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P.O. Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079.

Advancement in the Four Scouting Program Phases

Advancement is one of the methods used to achieve the aims of Scouting in all four phases of the Scouting program (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Varsity Scouting, and Venturing). The aims of Scouting are character building, citizenship training, and physical and mental fitness.

Cub Scouting

The Cub Scout program in the den and pack is the basis for Cub Scout advancement. The steps in Tiger Cub, Cub Scout, and Webelos Scout advancement procedures are preparation, qualification, and recognition.

Cub Scouting has the following ranks: Bobcat, Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light. The requirements to reach each rank are authorized by the National Executive Board and set forth in the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, and Webelos Handbook.

Venturing

{{quote-source|A male Venturer who has achieved the First Class rank as a Boy Scout in a [[troop or as a Varsity Scout in a team may continue working toward the Eagle Scout rank as a Venturer until his 18th birthday. There is no alternate Venturing advancement route to qualify for the Eagle Scout rank.